Apparatus for charging retorts



March 17, 1931; wt. NAYLOR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING RETORTS Filed Feb. 5,1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 17, 1931. w, E, NAYLQR I APPARATUS FORCHARGING RETORTS s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1927 March 17, 1931. w.E. NAYLOR I APPARATUS FOR CHARGING RETORTS 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Feb.5, 1927 March 17, 1931. w NAYLOR 1,796,802

APPARATUS FORCHARGING RETORTS Filed Feb. 5, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1iiiiiii March 17, 1931. I w Y o 1,796,802

APPARATUS FOR CHARGING RETORTS Filed Feb. 5, 1927 5 Sheets-Shet 5liilli! iii-11mm i) us lliiiii Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATESwanna PATENT OFFICE E. NAYLOB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO THEBEABDBLEY & PI?

COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIOBA'IION OF ILLINOIS APPARATUS FORCHARGING RETOBTS .lpplication filed February 5, 1927. Serial 1T0.188,053.

The invention relates to apparatus for chargin retortsi I The ject ofthe invention is to provide apparatus for expeditiously chargingretorts, such, for exam 1e, as are used in the production of zinc. hisobject is attained primarily by providing a rotar projector which isadapted to sling forcib y or throw the material through inletsof theretorts and is conveniently movable so that it may be successivelbrought, into position to charge all of t e retorts. Another object ofthe'invention is to provide improved aptudinal section through theparatus which is adapted to slmplify and expedite the charging ofretorts with material to be smel Other objects of the invention and thevarious advantages and characteristics of the present construction willappear from a reading of the following detailed descrip tion. Theinvention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forthand more par-- ticularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. 1 pInthe drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation (parts being shown insection) of ,a machine embodylng the invention. Figs.

, 2 and 3 are oppositely viewed end e1eva- $0 The invention isexemplified in appara-.

tus for chargin -a,zinc smelting furnace, the front wall a: of'which isprovided with a series of horizontal rowsof inlets w, through which thematerial is delivered into the smelting chambers of the furnace. Theapparatus comprises mainly, a carriage A upon which the chargingapparatus is mounted so it may be transporte to receive a supply ofmaterial and deliver it to a one or more furnaces to be charged; a

so reservoir or contalner B mounted on the two central beams a of thecarriage Fig.-

carriage and adapted to receive and hold sufiicient material to charge anumber of retorts; an endless'conveyor C which forms the bottom of thereservoir and is adapted to feed the material from the reservoir inregulated quantity; an elevator D which receives the material from theconveyor C and elevates it; a vertically swinging arm or frame E; a beltconveyor F mounted on and to move with the arm E, which receivesmaterial from the elevator; a rotary projector G which is adapted tosling the material through the inlets 2: into the retorts of thefurnace; mechanism J for raising and loweri the projector intodiiferent'positions to c arge the inlets at different elevations; anelectric motor H, mounted on the carriage, for driving a shaft h;reversible transmission gearing K driven by the motor H, for pro ellingthe carriage; driving -mechanism 12 for the elevator D; driving.mechanism M for the conveyor C; a control lever N for the transmissionfearing K and .7

a control lever O for the nisms L and M. y

In the use of the apparatus for charging smelting furnaces, the ore isfirst ulverized and mixed with coke and a su cient percentage of sodafor a flux, and this pulverized material is usually delivered or storedin an overhead bin from which it may be quickly discharged into thereservoir B on the carriage A. This reservoir has a sufficient capacityto charge a large number of retorts so as to minimize the trlpsnecessary between the overhead storage bin and the furnace.

The carriage comprises a frame composed of. longitudinal beams a andend-beams a, all of which are secured together to form a rigidsupporting frame; axles a mounted in wheels 41' which are adapted to runon rails a usually laid in and extending longitudinall of the floor ofthefurnace room.

T e reservoir B consim a of a hopper having downwardly convergent sidewalls 12' and end walls 22. The hopper is supported by beams a which aresupported b the me riving mechabearings a on said frame; and flanged Thebottom of the reservoir B is formed by the endless feed conveyor C, andthe latter is composed of a series of overlapping slats c on sprocketchains which extend respectively around a pair of drive sprockets 0 on across-shaft and around idler sprockets c Said shafts are journalled-inbearings c (Fig. 5) which are fixed to the beams 0. Adjacent thedischarge end of the conveyor 0, an adjustable gate 6 is provided toform an opening of variable size, through which the material will bedischarged from the reservoir so as to regulate the rate at which thematerial will be fed from the reservoir and to the projector. Theelevator D for the material comprises a vertically extending casing d atone end of the reservoir B andsuitably secured to the'carriage; anendless chain (1 carrying the elevator buckets (1 an overhead idlersprocket d for the chain 03 a drive sprocket d at one side of and in thelower material from the conveyor C is discharged ing (Z tor d directsthe discharged material into through an opening in one side of theeasonto the bottom thereof. A deflecsaid casing. Sprocket d is fixed toa shaft d which'is journalled in bearings (Z which are secured to thecarriage frame. The shaft for overhead sprocket d is mounted -inadjustable bearings d so that the elevator chain may be kept taut. Theupper part of the casing cl is provided with a (lischarge spout. (Zthrough which the material, elevated by the buckets d will be dis"-charged in a downwardly. direction at one side of the elevator casing03.-

The material projector G comprises a caslng g and a rotor g fprovidedwith an inclined plate g which is adapted to pack.

the material under the influence of centrifugal force against the rim ofthe casing and to discharge it laterally from the cas-.

ing through a spout g projecting from one side of the casing and at thecorrect angle to cause the material to be thrown through the usualinclined inletsm of the furnace. The projector casing is fixed to thedistal end of the. arm E so that the projector may be raised and loweredinto position to discharge the material into inlets located at differentelevations in the front wall of the furnace.- The arm comprises atubular member e, to the outer end of which the projector casing g isfixed, and a gear housing e to which the inner end of the member isattached. An electric motor 6 has its casing secured to the gear casinge to form a unitary part of the arm. The motor casing is bolted to abracket 6 which is fixed to a shaft 0 which is journalled in bearings ewhich are fixed to one end of the elevator casing df. This exemplifies aprojector which is pivotally supported so as to swing vertically topermit the material to be discharged into inlets of retorts lo cated atdifferent elevations. The shaft 6 of the electric motor 6 extendsthrough the gear-case e and" tubular member 6', and the hub of the rotorg is fixedly secured to the outer end of said shaft inside of the casingg.

The conveyor F for delivering the material from theelevator into theprojector casing comprises an endless belt f, an idler pulley fjournalled adjacent the inner side of the projector casing g, and adriven pulley f mounted adjacent the gear-casing 0 A hopper f issupported by bars 6 which are suitably supported from the member ato-direct the material from the discharge spout d of the elevator ontothe conveyorbelt 7 which delivers the material into an opening in theinner side of the projector casing g where it will be caught by therapidly rotating projector blade 9 The speed of the latter ranges around1200 re'volutions per minute, so that the pulverized material will bepacked into wads by centrifugal force and forcibly projected throughspout 9 into the rotor. Belt f is constantly driven from the -motor 6while the projector is in operation, by means of gearing comprising abevelled gear f fixed to the shaft 6", bevelled gear f meshing with gearF, a sprocket-wheel f fixed to rotate with gear f, a' sprocket chain fdriven by sprocket f and a sprocket wheel f fixed to rotate the drivepulley f for the belt f. This exemplifies a pivotally-1nova blesupporting unit for the projector. head which carries a conveyor and inwhich the several parts are enclosed, so that the pulj verized materialwill not work into the driving mechanism.

The projector is raised and lowered by means of a cable 6 which passesaround overhead sheaves e mounted on cross-head e fixed to the upper endof a standard 6 which is supported by the carriage, a drum 6 on whichthe cable is wound, so that thecable may be raised to lift the projectoror paid out to lower it, and a crank 6 by which the drum may beoperated. A ratchet e is provided to prevent the cable from unwinding.This exemplifies means for raising and lowering the supporting arm forthe projector which is pivoted to swingv vertically and for locking itin desired elevation. I

The. motor H is mounted at one end of the carriage-frame and is adaptedto furnish the power to drive the transmission gearing for the carriageand the elevator and the feed conveyor C. The shaft h of the motor H isprovided with a pinion If. The transmission gearing K comprises a gearis which meshes with the pinion 11. a shaft 10 to which the gear is isfixed, and which is rotatably mounted and longitudinally slidable inbearings 70 of the gearcase; two oppositely facing conoidial frictionintegrally formed with an extension of said case; two oppositely facingconoidial friction pulleys k" and k", which are fixed to the shaft 10and rotatable and longitudinally movable therewith; a large taperedfriction pulley 7: with the opposite sides of which pulleys 7s and 7care adapted to engage to drive it in either direction; a cross-shaft 10which is journalled in bearings 70 which are fixed to the beams c; asprocket wheel k fixed to shaft k a sprocket chain is driven by saidsprocket-wheel and a sprocket-wheel k which is keyed to rotate the axlea of one pair of the wheels (1 which serve as traction wheels. A collarn is fixed to one end of the shaft 70 and is adapted to beshiftedlongitudinally by the controller lever N to shift the drivepulley is into engagement with the pulley k and in reverse direction tobring the drive-pulley [a into engagement with the pulley in", as wellas into a neutral position, in which both of the pulleys In and 70 willbe disen aged from the pulley is. Lever N is fixe to a cross-shaft nwhich is pivoted in bearings 71. which are fixed to one of the end beamsof. The operating connection for lever N comprises an arm 41. fixed tothe cross shaft; a link a pivoted to the free end of arm n; and a levern? which is pivoted to the link, fulcrumed on the carriage frame at nand pivoted at n to a ring n? which is confined in an annular groove inthe collar n. This exemplifies reversible transmission gearing fordriving the truck in opposite directions and for controlling the gearingby means of a lever. An operators platform a is suitably supported fromthe carriage frame at one end thereof, so that the operator may ride onthe carriage and conven-- iently control its movements.

The mechanism L for driving the elevator comprises a pinion Z fixed torotate with the shaft a gear Z meshing with pinion Z and enclosed in thegear-case is; a shaft Z journalled in the gear-case k and in a bearingbracket Z fixed to the carriage frame, and on which gear-wheel Z isloosely mounted so it may rotate independently of the shaft; a sprocketwheel Z fixed to the shaft Z a sprocket chain .Z; and a sprocket wheel Zfixed to the shaft d tto which the elevator drive-sprocket d is secured.

The mechanism M for driving the conveyor 0 comprises an eccentric mfixed to rotate with the shaft Z a collar m held in a groove in theeccentric m links 721. pivoted at m to collar m; a lever on, to one endof which the links 072* are pivoted, a pawl 11?. operated b the levelm"; and a ratchet wheel m which is fixed to the shaft 0 which carriesthe drive sprocket c for the chains 0 of the feed conveyor 0. Thismechanism serves to intermittently operate the conveyor which forms thebottom of the reservoir to discharge a regulated quantity of thematerial from the reservoir into the elevator casing cl.

Lever O for controlling the elevator and 0 secured to one cndvof thereservoir B.

The operating connections for the lever comprise a depending arm 0 fixedto shaft 0', a link 0", pivoted to the free end of arm 0 an arm 0pivotally connected to link 0* and fixed to a shaft 0 which is ournalledin the gear-case 70, an, arm 0, fixed to the shaft 0 inside of the crankcase and forked to shift a movable clutch member 0 which is'splined tothe shaft Z and adapted to interlock with complementary clutch teeth onthe gear P, so that when said clutch-members interengage, the gear wheelZ will drive the shaft Z through the clutch, and when the clutch membersare disengaged, the shaft Z, the elevator and the feed conveyor will beidle.

The operation will be as follows: Assuming the machine to be in positionto receive a load of pulverized material with which the retorts are tobe charged, the reservoir 13 will be filled with such material. Theoperator, by means of lever N will control the reversible transmissiongearing to propel the carriage from the loading place across thefront ofthe furnaces orretorts until it is positioned adjacent the retorts to becharged. The projector head G may then be raised or lowered, ifnecessary, to bring the discharge spout g of the projector intosubstantial registry with one of the inlets to a retort. The operatorwill then shift the lever O to couple the gear Z and the clutch member0, so that shaft Z will be continuously driven. The mechanism M willslowly operate the feed conveyor C to deliver pulverized material fromthe reservoir to the elevator D. The latter will deliver the material asreceived from the feed conveyor and discharge it through the spout dinto hopper f on the projector arm E and onto the endless feed belt fwhich will feed the material into the casing g. The

'ery ofthe casing g and then forcibly discharged laterally through thespout g and the inlet m into the retort. The retort will then be closedas well understood in the art until the material has been properlysmelted. The machine may, through the reversible transmission gearing K,be propelled into position adjacent different vertical rows of inlets w,and by raising and lowering the projector head, it may be positioned toproject the material through the inlets at different elevations. Thus,the machine is adapted to fill any of the usual vertical or horizontalseries of retorts with material from the reservoir B, until the load ofmaterial has been used. The operator will then operate the control leverO to stop the feed conveyor C and elevator H, and then manipulate thelever N to control the reversible transmission gearing K to propel themachine into position to receive another load of material from theoverhead bin or other suitable source of supply. I .The inventionexemplifies a machine for charging zinc smelting furnaces and the like,in which the charges are expeditiously thrown into the retorts by meansof a high speed projector; in which the projector is mounted on amovable carriage which may -be readily propelled between differentfurnaces and to and from the source of supply of pulverized material;which is adapted to transport a large quantity of the material so that alarge number of retorts may be charged from a single load to minimizethe trips necessary .in loading the reservoir; in which the projector-isvertically adjustable to charge retorts located at different heightsfrom the floor, and which is well adapted for use in chargingzinc'smelting furnaces to expedite the charging and prevent losses whichresult from delay in char ing.

The invention is not to be un erstood as restricted to the details setforth, since these may be modified within the scope of the a pendedclaims, without departing from t e spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In apparatus for charging furnaces, the combination of a movablecarriage, a reservoir for'the material mounted on the carriage, anendless conveyor for feeding mate rial from the reservoir, a rotaryprojector for throwing material, provided with means to dischargelaterally, into the furnace, and means for delivering material from theconveyor to the projector comprising an elevator.. I I

2. In apparatus for charging furnaces, the combination of a' movablecarriage, a reservoir mounted on the carriage, an. endless conveyorforming the bottom of the c5 reservoir, a vertically movable-rotary pro-3. In apparatus for charging furnaces,

the combination of a movablecarriage, a reservoir for the material onthe carriage, an arm pivotally supported on the carriage to swingvertically, a rotary projector on and movable with the arm, an elevatorat 7 one end of the reservoir for receiving material therefrom, aconveyor mounted on and movable with the arm for delivering the materialfrom the elevator to the projector, and a motor movable with the arm fordriving the projector.

4. In apparatus for charging furnaces having side inlets at differentelevations, the combination of a movable carriage, a reservoir for thematerial mounted fixedly on the carriage, a projector for the material,comprising a rotor and a casing for the rotor having a single dischargenozzle arranged to project the material laterally, means mounted on thecarriage for supporting the projector so that it may be moved verticallyinto position to project the material through said inlets, and means fordelivering the material from the reservoir to the projector, comprisinga conveyor movable with said projector.

5. In apparatus for char 'ng furnaces, the combination of a movabfiecarriage, an arm pivotally connected to the carriage so as to swingverticall alon ide of one side thereof, a rotary pro ector or throwingmaterial, mounted on the distal end of said arm, and means for feedingmaterial to the projector.

6.'In apparatus for char 'ng furnaces, the combination of a movab ecarriage, an arm pivotally connected to the carriage. so as to swingvertically alo 'de of one side thereof,.a rotary pro ector or throwingmaterial, mounted on the distal end of said arm and provided withadischarge nozzle arranged to project the material laterally with respectto said carriage, and means for feeding material to the projector.

7. In charging apparatus, the tion of a movable carriage havinglaterally extending shaft at one side thereof, an arm pivoted to saidshaft and adapted to swing vertically alongside of said side of thecar.- riage, a rotary projector forthrowing mate rial mounted on thedistal end of said arm, and means for feeding material to the projector.i

8. In if tion of a'movablecarriage having a later ally extending shaftat one side'thereof, an arm pivoted to said shaft and adapted tocombinacharging apparatus, the combinaswing vertically alongside of saidside of,

, rotary projector for throwing material mounted on the other end of thearm, means for feeding material to the projector, and

means for raising and lowerin the arm to shift the points of delivery oft e projector.

10. In charging apparatus, the combination of a movable carr1age,an armarranged alongside of and substantially coextensive with one side of thecarriage, one end of the arm being pivoted at one end of the carriage sothat it may be swung vertically adjacent said side, a rotary pro ectorfor throwin material mounted on the other end of t e arm, means forfeeding material to the projector, and means at the other end of thecarriage for raising and lowering the arm to shift the points ofdelivery of the projector.

11. In charging apparatus of the character described, the combination ofa wheeled carriage, a reservoir for the material mounted on thecarriage, an arm pivotally supported at one end of said carriage toswing vertically adjacent one, side of the reservoir, a rotary projectorfor throwin the material mounted on the distal end 0 the arm, anelevator for the material at said one end of the carriage, a conveyormounted on and movable with the arm for delivering the material from theelevator to the projector, and means at the other end of the carria efor raising and lowering the arm to shi t the points of dehvery of theprojector.

12. A machine for charging retorts comprising a frame, a pivot on whichsaid frame is supported for vert cal swinging movements, a projector atone end of said frame, a motor at the opposite end of sa1d frame, a

- conveyor supported by said frame for conveying materials to saidprojector, a recep tacle extending below the plane of sa d conveyor,elevator mechanism for del vering materials fromsaid receptacle to sa1dconveyor, and mechanism for operating sa1d elevator mechanism.

13. A machine for charging retorts comprising a pivotally supported proector, means for supporting said projector at different heights, a motorfor operatlng sa1d projector, a conveyor for conveying materials to saidprojector, elevator mechanism for delivering materials to said conveyor,'a container for the materials to be projected by said projector, and-aconveyor for conveyin said materials from said container to sa1d eevator mechanism.

14. A machine for charging retorts comprising a pivotally supportedprojector, means for supporting sa1d projector at different heights, amotor for operating said projector, a conveyor for conveying materialsto said projector, elevator mechanism for delivering materials to saidconveyor, a container for the materials to be projected by saidprojector, a conveyor for conveyin said materials from said container tosai elevator mechanism, amotor, and mechanism operated by said motor foroperating said elevator mechanism -and said last named conveyor.-

15. A machine for charging retorts arranged in tiers comprising aconveyor operating transversely of the lanes of the axes of the retortsto be charged a discharge nozzle extending approximately parallel withthe plane of the axes of the retorts, a projector for throwing throughsaid discharge nozzle the material dumped from said conveyor, and meansfor supporting said projector and said nozzle at different heights ineach of which said nozzle extends in a direction approximately parallelwith its direction of extension at any other height.

16. A machine for charging retorts arranged in tiers comprising a conveor operating transversely of the planes 0 the axes of the retorts to becharged, a projector, an approximately horizontal nozzle for saidprojector extending approximately parallel with the plane of the axes ofthe retorts, a horizonta pivot supporting and permitting the projectorto be moved vertically while the nozzle remains approximatelyhorizontal, a device for moving the pro ector vertically, and mechanismfor conveying material to and operating the projector in any of theositions thereof.

17. machine for charging retorts arranged in tiers comprising a conveyoroperative transversely of the planes of the axes of the retorts to becharged, a rotary projector for discharging material delivered theretofrom said conveyor, an approximately horizontal nozzle for saidprojector, means for supporting the projector and the nozzle andpermitting movements thereof to different vertical positions in each ofwhich positions said nozzle extends in a direction approximatelyparallel with the direction of extension in an other position, means formoving the pro ector and the nozzle in different vertical positions, andmechanism for operating the projector in any of said positions. 4

18. 'A. machine for charging retorts arranged in ,tiers comprising aconveyor operating transversely of the planes of the axes of the retortsto be charged, a projector for discharging materials delivered tlieretofrom said conveyor, means for supporting the projector in differentvertical positions, a discharge nozzle extending toward said retorts forcharging the retorts with materials thrown by said projector, mechanismfor operating said conveyor and said projector, a container for thematerials to be conveyed to the projector, mechanism for conveying thematerials from said container to said conveyor, and a device forregulating the amount of materials conveyed by said last-named mechanismfrom said container during a given period of operation.

19. A machine for charging retorts arranged in tiers comprising astationary support, a frame ivoted on said support for vertical swingingmovements transversely of the planes, of the axes of the retorts to becharged, means for supporting said frame in the different positions towhich it is moved,

a nozzle extending laterally from one end of said frame toward theretorts, a projector in said frame adjacent to said nozzle, 'a. motor atthe opposite end of said frame, a conveyor supported bysaid frame forcon' veying materials to said projector, and mechanism foroperatingisaid projector and saidv conveyor by said motor.

- Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 21st day of January, 1927.

WALTER E. NAYLOR.

